The Seed Project

Mission

Tenzin Samdup is an exceptionally talented goalkeeper and the sole professional footballer within the Tibetan community. He is also a member of the Tibetan National Football Team. Unfortunately, the Tibetan National Football Team is not recognized by FIFA, preventing them from participating in the World Cup. Samdup has previously played for various elite football teams in India and even secured victory in the Indian championship. His initiative, known as "The Seed Project," aims to cultivate and enhance the football skills of Tibetan children at the grassroots level.

"I have always aspired to see more Tibetans excel at higher levels of football. My goal is to change our people's mindset and show them that a child's future can be shaped not only through academics but also through sports. While we emphasize formal education, there is a vast world beyond waiting for us to explore." - T. Samdup

Samdup's mission revolves around establishing a football school dedicated to providing children with the training and opportunities essential for nurturing their talents as future professional footballers. There's an urgent need to create a reference point and offer children the chance to excel in a place where they can learn, grow, and thrive. Initially, Samdup planned to construct a small football pitch for this purpose. The academy will be situated in the Tibetan settlement of Mundgod, one of the oldest and largest Tibetan refugee settlements.

Project

Tenzin Samdup believes that Tibetan football education often overlooks the fundamentals. Initiatives like "The Seed Project" can help children gain essential technical guidance and grow as sporting talents. This project requires significant funding, and Samdup has already begun fundraising efforts to realize his goal of constructing an artificial turf pitch.

The preparation and construction of the pitch will be overseen by Meckavo Sports & Infra Private Limited, renowned for manufacturing and supplying synthetic turf for football in India. Their team comprises internal engineers and project experts experienced in construction and sports management. They specialize in constructing indoor and outdoor structures for various terrains and locations, offering consultancy, construction, installation, and maintenance services for all types of artificial turf football pitches across India.

The academy, spanning an area of 15,000 square feet, will be located in Mundgod Tibetan Settlement. It's privately owned to ensure minimal interference and designed to prioritize safety during training to prevent accidents and injuries.

The initial phase will involve ground preparation and leveling, necessitating the use of a mechanical excavator (JCB). Once the ground is ready, the installation of synthetic turf for football will proceed, including the construction of white grass, silica sand, and rubber granules. Subsequent steps encompass the creation of the synthetic grass platform, drainage system, painting, net covering, electrical systems, lighting, goal posts, rexin covering, and other necessary industrial works. These activities form the core of the football academy's complete construction. The planned field area measures 4.57 km², with the entire project's cost amounting to 50 lakh (CHF 54,000), of which Samdup has already raised 10 lakh (CHF 11,000) from his own funds.

Biography

Tenzin Samdup, born on December 23, 1992, is an integral part of the Tibet national team. He initiated his professional football career with the Doeguling Youth Sports Association (DYSA) Tibetan Settlement in Mundgod.

Samdup consistently represents the non-FIFA Tibet international football team, and he participated in the 2018 CONIFA Football World Cup, one of the rare tournaments that the team has been a part of.

In 2018, he joined Chennai City FC in the Indian I-League, making one league appearance before transferring to Real Kashmir.

On September 1, 2021, he signed with Mumbai Kenkre ahead of the I-League qualifiers. Despite missing promotion to the I-League, the team assumed the position due to Chennai City's failure to comply with club licensing rules.

Samdup debuted for the club in the I-League on March 4, 2022, in a 1–1 draw against his former club, Real Kashmir.

His exceptional performance earned him the title of Hero of the Match during the 0-0 draw against Rajasthan United on March 25, 2022.